kscans

Chapter 152 - The O-saki and the Emissary

"It is like a dream."

The Golden Ring is complete, and a blessing resounds throughout the world. A solemn light extends from between the thick clouds, pointing to several locations. It illuminates Frontier, Claudia, and Donautil, then faintly disappears.

"It seems I was not chosen in this life either."

Legion’s ears were tickled by the wondrous melody as he slumped his shoulders in dejection.

"Then, the reverse."

The eyes of the oni, Legion, faintly glowed, a dangerous light rippling through them. The eyes of the small oni around him also shone unsettlingly, tinged with a faint red. The border forest of Flowers exuded a strange atmosphere. For now, no one had yet noticed this change.

"The building is complete, right? What about moving in the art pieces? Have we secured the personnel to guard them?"

Two days after returning from her pilgrimage, after a brief rest, Little One began to run around for the opening of the Arts Theater.

"What about the landscape architects who created the gardens? Is the autumn garden progressing smoothly? Are there any troubles?"

Two years had passed since the land was chosen. The gardens had already been created through much trial and error so that the nature and flowers of each season could be enjoyed. A main street was drawn in each of the four cardinal directions from the Arts Theater, and a larger outer road was created, with plazas and themed areas arranged in various places. As far as the eye could see, a vast garden adorned the surroundings of the Arts Theater.

"For the gardens, we have five gardeners specializing in trees. Four of them are each managing a quadrant, and they are creating the Four Seasons Village with their subordinates."

"And the last one?"

"He is the one who manages the overall balance. He does not belong to any section and keeps an eye on the entire garden."

I see, a supervisor.

Little One nodded and, while looking at a map of the area around the Arts Theater, checked the outer periphery of the gardens.

"What are the plans for these five plazas?"

Five plazas were prepared on the outer periphery of the Arts Theater. Themed gardens for each of the four seasons were planned for these areas.

"This time, the theme is the gardens of various countries. We have Kilfan, Donautil, Flowers, Castrato, and in the remaining one, we have gathered food stalls from each country."

It seemed it was carried out with the cooperation of nearby friendly countries. The gardens would also be open to the public, so they had gathered familiar food stalls.

Then, the civil official who had been explaining remembered something and timidly asked Little One.

"The art pieces gathered in the first-floor hall of the Arts Theater are also scheduled to be open to the public for free… Are you serious?"

The first floor was scheduled to display art pieces solicited from the public, the second floor would feature art by professionals, and the third floor would display jewelry by professionals. The first floor was also planned for sales upon opening, and each booth would feature decorative items and art pieces for sale by skilled artisans, as well as beautifully colored daily necessities.

"These, stationery, tableware, and cutlery. You have allocated a considerable amount of space for things other than art pieces, but why?"

Little One smirked at the puzzled civil official and explained.

"Then why does the royal palace display tableware in display cabinets?"

Indeed, even in ordinary households, wealthy families display tableware in display cabinets. They are not for everyday use, but are special hospitality tools for special occasions.

"That is because porcelain is expensive. It is not something that can be left out carelessly, and it is managed to prevent any accidents."

"How is that any different from art pieces or jewelry?"

The civil official’s face lit up in realization.

Tableware is the most familiar art form. It is a product befitting the small luxuries that color everyday life. The first floor, which was scheduled to be open to the public, was intended to house such items that were within reach of the common people. Rather than jewelry that was obviously expensive at a glance, tableware and stationery, whose atmosphere could be completely changed by pictures and craftsmanship, were more suitable to be given the name of art, as they reflected individual tastes and preferences.

"I see. Art that is within reach of the common people."

The civil official nodded in understanding.

They planned to prepare sections outside the garden periphery as well, to be opened to general street vendors. Little One wanted to make it a place of relaxation where many people could gather.

I’m really grateful to Arcadia, where there is an excess of nothing but land.

The most difficult problem for such theme parks is the construction site. And in Arcadia, those were lying around everywhere. Being able to use the land next to the academy city was also a big plus. At the very least, they could expect a certain number of visitors from the people living in the academy city. Conversely, people who wanted to visit the academy city would use the inns around the Arts Theater, and they would liven each other up with a synergistic effect.

The Arts Theater was built next to it with that expectation. For its long-awaited unveiling, Little One was running all over the place.

"How are the inns? Are there enough private open-air baths?"

"Yes, seven on each floor. If they are used at different times, it should be sufficient."

The inns were built with reference to the one Little One’s group had stayed at in Kilfan. There were two buildings each for the nobles of each country and for the common people. A large public bath was built in the building for the common people, but it could not be used by the nobles. The ladies of Arcadia, especially those of the noble class, found it indecent to show their skin and absolutely required private baths. But on a trip, that cramped claw-foot bathtub was uninspiring. At Little One’s initiative, an open-air bath with a view of the Arts Theater and gardens was devised. It was a service unique to Frontier, where filling the bath each time was easy with magic. It was designed so that it could not be seen from below, a private space that the ladies could use with peace of mind. Designed in tiers from the first floor, an open-air bath where one could look up at the starry sky. After inspecting the completed bath, Little one ground her back teeth, gunununu.

If only this had been there when I was on my pilgrimage.

Despite having traveled through various countries, Little One had not had the leisure to enjoy the feeling of being on a trip. As if to vent that frustration, she had crammed this and that into the inn. There were selectable nightwear including yukatas, and you could choose between renting them for reuse or buying them new. Little One’s dreams were reflected in it to the fullest.

And so, she flew from place to place, and relieved that the result was satisfactory, Little One couldn’t stop her excitement.

I’m so looking forward to it. We’ve really, finally come this far, yup.

The theater business had to be started from scratch. The concept of a museum to display art and artifacts also did not exist in Arcadia. Such expensive items were things that individuals ordered and owned. Paints and the like also used minerals as raw materials, making them expensive and not something the common people could afford. Furthermore, when it came to paintings, the raw materials alone cost a tremendous amount. Only the wealthy could afford to paint, and the gate to that world was naturally narrowed.

However, Little One had been concerned about that.

In the past, when she was an adventurer, she had received a request for insects for dyeing and came up with the dyeing business. The result was paints derived from plants. Little One was also planning to unveil them. In Arcadia, where there was an excess of land, mass production would be easy once the cultivation method was established. The development of dyes, which had been carried out in secret, had also seen progress, and she had even had them researched to the point where they could be used as art materials.

Nishishi, I’ve already secured the artists, and the works are already finished. I can see the surprised faces of everyone in my mind, nyo.

And so, after checking each location, Little One finally returned to the mansion, where Merda was waiting for her.

"Welcome back. Congratulations on the completion of the Golden Ring."

"Huh?"

Little One’s eyes went wide at Merda, who was bowing deeply. Apparently, Merda and the others had heard the said resonance.

"A light extended from between the clouds, and it was so beautiful."

Little One was speechless at Merda’s smile, which was so blissful that even her compound eyes seemed to have melted.

It seemed the resonance had occurred when Little One was summoned by Sapphard and the others. It must have been the moment she made a pact with Olga. Being underground and the whole being summoned by Sapphard affair meant Little One hadn’t noticed it. Apparently, the sound did not reach underground.

Nyaaaaaaa!! To miss a once-in-a-hundred-years event!!

Little One was stunned by the shock.

Later, Little One would write down the various details regarding the pilgrimage for the sake of the future Golden King, but it was already too late. The girl who would become the last Golden King wrote it down, but there would be no new person to see it.

A prayer for the future Little One, who would slam her brush down with bloodshot eyes.